Electric switch.



N. H. SUREN.

" Patented July 27, 1909.

.fw-fm ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, m08.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE. l

NATHAN H. SUREN, OF NEEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE'GAMEWELL FIRE. ALARM TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,VA CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent. l

Patented July 27, 1909.

Application mea nay 2a, 190s. serial No. 434,515.

of a circle.

'The invention has for its .object to improve the construction of the switch in severalparticulars, as follows -to provide an im- 1 proved switch-arm which may be cheaply manufactured yet is strong, durable and etticient; to provide means for exerting a uniform pressure on the switch-arm at all points about the pivot-stud,fthereby pressing said switch-arm against the head of the pivot-stud orother abutment which is provided for it with a firm, uniform pressure at j all points in all positions of said arm; tol

provide a fixed bearing plate for the springplate which is employed to exert a 4uniform pressure on the switch-arm; to provide im'- proved means for holding the p1votstud in fixed position with respect vto the base; to construct the parts of the switch in such manner that they may be assembled independent of the base to which they are subsequently attached, and the pressure `on they switch-arm properly adjusted, so that when subsequently attached to the b ase said pressure will not beivaried by the attaching means.

Figure 1 shows in front elevation an electric-switch embodying this invention. Fig.

.2 is a vertical section of the switch shown in Fig. 1, taken on the dotted line 2-.-2. Fig.

is a detail of the retaining plate for the iA pivot-stud to be described. Fig. 4 is a detail tactA p of the spring-plate to be described. Fig( 5 is a detail of the contact-plate which is attached to the hand-lever and which in con-.

'3' pivot-stud. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of an electric-switch embodying my invention having-a modified form of switch-arm. Fig. 9

is a detail of the hand-lever shown in F ig. 8. a represents the base, and Y) and@ the con ugs winch are setmto the base and adapted to be engaged bythe switch-arm. The base l has a hole through it for a pivotstud, which latter is made long enough to extend through said hole.

The pivot-stud, see Fig. 7,'has a circular or other shaped head al, a cylindrical portion al next the head'which is made of lesser diameter than the head, a portion (l2 next the ortion d made smaller than said portion cl, but which isother than round, and a screw-threaded shank d3,'of a lesser diameter than the-portion d2. The portions d and Z2 are herein referred to as shoulders'. The shoulder d2 may be made cylindrical, of lesser diameter than ythe shoulder d', and then slabbed oil on one side, orit may be otherwise made other than round. The switch-arm is mounted on the shoulder d next the head, suitable washers being arranged on said shoulder at opposite sides of said arm, if desired. The switch-arm shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6 comprises la hand-lever c and a contact-plate f.

The hand-lever e shown in said figures consists of a piece of sheet metal,- cut to the desired shape, and having its edges turned over all around it, orV nearly so, as repre# sented at c', Figi. G, to stifl'en it and give its edge a rounding finish. A knob c2 is attached to the lever at its end. The cont-act-.

plate f, see Fig. 5, consists of a piece of sheet spring metal cut to the desired rsha )e .and

space. Both the lever c and..contactplate,

have a circular hole at one end of suitable size to enable them to -fit upon the cylindrical shoulder d of the pivot-stud. When the parts are assembled the ycontact-plate is held in engagement'with the' lever, andas the projectlon on said plate enters the space between the overturned edges of said lever,

.said plate will be moved by said lever and as said plate is not attached to the lever it is free to lmove independently thereof, so that its inherentspring action may be utilized for its entire length. Byv making the hand-lever in this manner it may be cheaply manufactured, is very strong and durable, and provides, withoutv additional expense, for connecting the contact-plate with it.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the switcharm consists of a hand lever and a contact-plate t, The hand-lever is struck outv of sheet metal of suitable thickness and its edge is 'nished, and it has a small hole t2 through show'n 1n Figs. 1,2, 3 and 6.

it, and `the contact-plate has a projection t? which enters said hole when the parts are assembled. This lalternative form of switcharm may be employed in lieu of the `form A spring-plate g, 4see Fig. 4, preferably `of circular form, has a -center hole through it adapting' it to be placed upon the shoulder A Z of the pivot-stud.' The spring-plate is made as a disk having radially extended spring-fingers, such. a spring-plate being sometimes called a spider-spring. The cen.-

tral portion or crown ofthe spring-'plate is fiat and the radial fingers are arranged to occupy Apositions oblique to the plane of the of the pivot-stud, hence is coextensive there-p plvot-stud, so that said/switch-arm is pressed.

against thehead of the abutment which is or may be central" portion orcrown. The diameter 'of the -central portion or crown is approximately the same as the diameter of the head with. The spring-plate is arranged on the shoulder d', with its crown or central portion next the switch-arm or a Washer, 1f a vwasher is employed. This form of spring exerts a strong yet yielding pressure upon the` switch-arm and possesses the important.. advantage of exerting 'a uniform pressure .upon-the switchrm at all points about thepivot-stud or other 4 rovided for it with a uniform pressure at a l points and inall vpositions it may occupy. The switcharm is thus not only firm-ly held but is re- .vented from wabb ing onv the pivot stu in all its dili'erent positions and furthermore requires the same force to move it.

, The retaining-plate h for the pivot-stud, see'Fig. 3, is arranged on the shoulder d thereof. It'consists of a fiat plate of circula'r or other form, having an other than roundy centerhole of a shape corresponding to the shape of the shoulder'l d2, so as to snugly fit upon said shoulder. Thisplate' 1 has a rojection h struck up from! 1t or otherwise formed on it,. which is adapted to entera hole in thevbase.

. correspondingly shaped shoulder causes said plate to be non-rotatably7 connected with the upper si e presents a flat s'urfacefor -en agement therewith of the spring-lingers o the spring-plate, therefore said plate not only pivot-stud, and the projection h serves as a means for engaging the b ase to prevent the plate 'from turning. Said retalning-plate therefore holds 'the pivot-stud in I fixed position with relation' to the-base. When the parts are assembled the under side of said retainin -plate engages the base while its acts to hold the pivot-stud but also serves as va bearing plate' for the spring-plate. The

The other. 'than 'round center hole -in the plate, fitting the ceases retaining plate is 'made ,larger in diameter than the 'spring plate, especially for the pur pose of providing a bearing for the spring lingers of saidspring plate. By. arranging the spring plate with its crown in engagement with the switch-arm and with its spring fingers in engagement with `the retaining.'

plate 7L, a large spring plate and a narrow sw1tch-arm may be employed. Furthermore,

the resistance oeied by the spring-platewhen' thus disposed relativeto the switcharin is greater than if its position wasreversed and the switch-arm engaged the'outer ends Iof its spring fingers. .The depth f the shoulder Z2 is not greater than the thickness offthe retaining-plate,so that when the. parts are assembled the shoulderd will engage said retaining-plate. It 1s desirable toassemble the parts thus described before vmounting them -on the base. a, so that the pressure on the switch-arm. may be adjusted with due care. Toaccomplish this result 'a nut i is'lturned on the screw.- threaded shank of the pivot-stud, and is 'brought to bear against the retaining-plateik, and forces said retaining-plate firmly against the end of the shoulder d. This nutis counterbored at the side adjoining the retainingplate. to receive the end of the shoulder' cl2, 5 in case said shoulder shuld project through the hole -in said-A retaining-plate When'the retaining-plate ils forced against the shoulder d, and into 'positiony 'to compress the spring-plate. To connect the assembled parts thus 'described to the base in such vmanner thatv the attaching-means will not act'to'vary @the pressure on theswitch arm the screw-threaded shank of the pivot- A4stud is extended through the holein the base .and a nutl j is turned on. the screw-threaded end of said stud which engages the bottom the base they cannot be removed except inasselnbled condition, hence their relative poe provided sitions cannot be changed -after they have 'been attached to the-base, so that the adjustmentl having once been made 'is at all times preserved.V

Havlng thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 1. In an electric-switch, a switch-arm comoverturned edges, and a contact-plate having a projee-l 1 posed of a 'hand-lever havin tion' which enters the space between the overturned edges ofsaid lever, substantially as described.'

2. In an electrieswitch,a switch-arm composed of a hand-lever having overturned edges, and a contactfp'late having an integra H y formed car which enters the space be' tween the overturned edges of said lever,

substantially 'as described.

In an electric switch, a. switch-arm composed of al hand-lever having a recess. at a point intermediate its lengt-h, and a springactiug Contact plate having a projection at a point intermediate its length which enters said recess but which is not connected withthc lever whereby said plate is movable independently of said lever in a direction to- 'ard and from the level' and its inherent. spring action may be utilized for its entire length, and means forA holding said lever and plate assembled and for pivotally supporting them, substantially as described.

4. In an electric switch, a pivot stud having a circular head, a switch-arm arranged on said stnd'next thc head, a spring plate comprising a fiat crown and a plurality of radially extended spring fingers arranged obl iquely to the plane of the crown which is arranged on said stud with its flat crown next the switch-arm, a removable bearingplate also arranged on said stud next the` is arranged on said stud with its Hat crown next the switch-arm, a iremovable. retainingplate non-rotatably mounted on said stud next the spring-plate which is made larger in diameter than the spring plate and its upper side is engaged by the spring fingers thereof, and its under side has a projection. adapted to enter a recess in the base, and means for moving said retaining-platealong on the stud .tocompressgthe spring-plate and hold it compressed, substantially as described.

6. In an electric switch, a-pivot stud 'having a head, two reduced portions, and a` screw-.threaded shank, a switch-arm arranged on a reduced'portion of said stud next-.the head, a `spring plate arranged on said stud next the switch-arm, a bearing plate ar-l ranged on another reduced' portion of said stud next the spring plate, and a nut a1'- ranged on the screw-threaded portion of said stud which presses the bearing-plate against a shoulder formed at. the junction of the two reduced portions, and compresses the'spring-plat'e, and means forl attaching the parts-thus assembled toa base, substan tially as described.

7*.' In anelc'ctric switch, apivot stud having a head, two red-need portions,- and a screw threaded ,sha-nk, a; switch arm arrangedwon a' reduced portion of said stud next the. head, -a spring-plate arranged on said stud next the switch-arm, a retainingplate ar 'anged on another reduced portion of said stud next the spring-plate having a projection on its under side adapted to enter a recess in the base, and a nut arranged on the. screw threaded portion of saidstud which presses the retaining-plate against a shoulderyformed at the junction of the two reduced portions Iand compresses the springplate, and means for attaching the parts thus assembled to the base, substantially as described.

8'. In an elect-ric switch, a pivot stud having a head, a circular reduced portion, an

other than circularrednced portion Aand a screw -.threaded shank, a switch-arm ar-d ranged n the circular reduced portion of saidstud, a spring plate also arranged on the circular reduced portion of said stud neXt the switch-arm, a retaining-plate arranged on the otherthan circular portion of said stud next the spring-plate having a projection on its under side adapted to enter a recess in the. base, a nut. arranged on the lscrew-threaded shank of said stud which presses the retaining-plate against a shoul` der formed at the, junction of the two reduced portions` and, compresses the springplatc, and means for attaching the parts thus assembled to the base,substantially as described.

Sl. In an electric switch, a pirot stud having a threaded `shank` a switch-arm morably i mounted on said sind, a spring-plate on said stud engaging said arm,a removable. bearing plate on said stud engaging said springplate, a nut turning on the threaded shank o'll said sind vt'or moving said bearing-plate along on the stud tocompress the spring- 'plate and for holding thc parts assembled with the spring-plate compressed, and Ameans for attaching the assembled parts to a base, substantially as described. l

. 10. In an electricI switch, a pivot. stud havmovably'mounted on said stud, a springplate. on said stml'engaging said armfa.- renmvable retaining-plate non-rotatably mounted on said stud engaging said spring'- plate having a projection on its under side adapted to enter a recess in the base, a nut on the screw-threaded shank of -said stud for moving said retaining-plate along on thel stud tocompress the spring-plate and for holding vthe aforesaid parts assembled with switch arm movably mounte thereon, a spuug-pressure devlee mounted on sald stud g adapted to exertlts pressure on sald swlteharm, and means, movable along on said stud for e(.)xnp'1'ess1ng sind spnng-pressure devlce 10 and for holding the parts assembled with the l'spring-pressur'e device eompressed, and` means for attaching the assembled parts to abase, substantially -as described.

, *In testimony whereof, I have signed myA name to thisspecioaton, in the presence of two sllbscribing Witnesses.

NATHAN H. SUREN. Witnesses: J. A. ABBOTT,. WM. L. THOMPSON. 

